Joliet woman's mentor legally adopts her

It’s not unusual for adults to call their mentors “Mom” or “Dad” or their children to call certain adults “Grandma” or “Grandpa” because of their close relationships, even when the ties aren’t biological.

But Candace Johnson took those relationships an extra step.

On June 11, Johnson, 30, was legally adopted by Fran Morgan of Joliet, an act they celebrated with lunch at Bob Evans.

The adoption simply formalized their relationship, which had grown close over time.

“Fran was always there for me,” Johnson said. “If I had a bad day or just needed someone to talk with, she encouraged me.”

Johnson said her children, now ages 8, 5 and 4, always called Morgan “Grandma.” Morgan, who has four adult children, said none of them “raised any eyebrows” when she shared her plans to legally adopt Johnson.

“Some of my boys thought it was funny,” Morgan said. “They said, ‘Why does she want to be in our family? Has she met us?’”

One adult can really adopt another? Yes, it’s true.

Adults can adopt another adult, if certain conditions are present, according to a pamphlet by the Illinois State Bar Association.

One of the adopting parents must be related to the adult being adopted or the adoptive parents and adult being adopted must have lived together in the adopting parents’ home for at least two years, which Johnson had, she said.

Also, the person being adopted must agree to the adoption.

Not only did Johnson agree to it, she initiated it. Johnson said she met Morgan through a co-worker, Sara Stovall of Joliet, who became like a sister to Johnson.

Both Morgan and Stovall manage apartments in the St. John the Baptist neighborhood in Joliet. The office has a low-key atmosphere, relaxed enough for Johnson to bring her children to work with her when needed, thus saving the cost of day care.

Johnson said she and her biological mother are not close. Johnson felt herself blossom through a caring relationship with Morgan.

“I had always been belittled, told I couldn’t do things, that I wasn’t smart enough,” Johnson said. “Fran helped me to grow, to get involved with more things.”

When Johnson first heard about adult adoption, she hoped she could satisfy the legal requirements by herself and then surprise Morgan. But after getting more information, Johnson learned adult adoption was a process she and Morgan must do together.

But she definitely wanted to do it.

“I wanted it to be more than just calling her ‘Mom,’” Johnson said. “I wanted her to be fully my Mom. I wanted the security for my kids if something happened to my husband and me.”

And so she decided to “pop the question” to Morgan in person. She even brought a bouquet of flowers, Morgan said.

“She wanted to ask me something, but she was so nervous,” Morgan recalled. “And I told her, ‘Just say it.’”

Morgan said Johnson asked her, ‘Will you really become my mom?’” And Johnson said her reaction was, “Do adults really do that? I didn’t know that was a thing.” And then it was, “Gosh, yes! Let’s do it!”

So they did.

Morgan said they started the formal process with a lawyer in May and it cost about $1,500.
She and Johnson had to go to court – the first time, Morgan said, she had ever been inside the courthouse. But they were excited.

“Making it official” changes the perception among other family members, for the better, Morgan said.

“They knew Candace and I were close for a long time, but they never thought of her as family the way I did,” Morgan said. “That does make a difference, as far as that goes.”

Morgan can’t wait to introduce Johnson to the rest of her relatives at the next family reunion.